We’ve all been through those dreadful times when the hair on our scalp seems to have found a better home on our bathroom floors and bedroom pillows, and we’ve all been through those depressing periods when we let the painful pimples on our face dictate our confidence levels. Well, gone are the days of spending your hard-earned bread on unnecessarily expensive “anti-everything” creams! If there’s one thing I’ve learned growing up in the land of Ayurveda – where people prefer to go au natural – is that there are NO skin or hair-care concerns that nature can’t fix. Take it from an Indian girl who grew up with a book of Grammy’s golden skin and hair care hacks, aloe vera really works! Here are five benefits that aloe vera can bring to your self-care routine!
- Tighter and brighter
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Woman to woman, I totally understand your desire to have great, bright skin. While we are all for the whole “age is just a number” thing, let’s just admit that none of us smile at the thought of wrinkles taking over our faces in the future. Luckily for you, the translucent gel from this miracle plant is extremely rich in vitamins C and E, which are essential for collagen production and give you tighter, younger-looking skin. All that you need is some aloe vera gel and beaten egg-whites (also known to promote collagen production). Mix them together and apply to the face, allowing to dry for about 20 minutes. Be sure to wash it off with luke-warm water to facilitate effective removal of the product!
- Girl, you glowin’!
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While some rarely get a spot on their face, others fight an everlasting battle with acne and try to get to the root cause of it. What they often fail to consider is their gut health. Our body reacts to what we feed it. Hence, no cream in the world — irrespective of how much it costs – can heal your skin if you continue to eat greasy chips, burgers, and other processed foods. Instead, start your day with a glass of aloe juice on an empty stomach! It is known to possess antibacterial properties that can cure indigestion and other gastric issues. In fact, you can even drink aloe vera infused water throughout the day to help the process of detoxification. Happy inside, glowing outside!
- Say “aloe” to healthy hair
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Everyone wants the long, strong, and healthy hair that every shampoo commercial highlights as effortlessly achievable. Well, while I can’t promise the effortlessness, I can vouch for the achievability of it. Aloe vera has been proven to have a similar make-up to that of keratin, an essential protein in hair. Therefore, aloe helps improve elasticity and prevent breakages in hair. It contains various enzymes that promote scalp health by repairing dead skin cells and promoting hair growth. Simply apply a mixture of aloe gel and any oil of your choice (such as olive oil or coconut oil) and massage it into your scalp and ends. Leave it in for 30 to 40 minutes before washing it off with cold water to enjoy silky smooth, thicker hair.
- Bye, bye, acne
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You’ve tried every anti-acne cream, face wash, and topical treatment…you’ve gone to multiple dermatologists and have taken multiple pills. Yet, those painful pimples won’t budge. Don’t stress — aloe vera can clean the mess! Along with its bag of benefits, aloe is extremely cooling, especially when combined with other soothing ingredients such as cucumber and honey. For effective results, blend cucumber juice with aloe vera gel and honey and apply to acne-covered areas. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash it off gently without any scrubbing.
- Aloe-very moisturizing
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Peeling, itchy, red, and damaged skin are just a few problems that aloe vera gel can rid your skin of, making it smooth and soothed. In fact, Ayurveda refers to aloe vera as a miracle herb for its antiseptic properties, as it is effective in treating wounds, cuts, burns and dry skin. Simply add some honey to the aloe and apply the mixture onto dry areas; leave it on for 20-30 minutes before washing. A non-sticky, hassle free alternative is to apply pure aloe gel right out of the shower, as it will allow maximum absorption.
I hope the golden benefits of this under-celebrated gift of nature makes you want to get your daily fix of aloe! Winter is almost upon us, and it’s time to glow, girl!
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